Staycations on the rise in Singapore – 10Dec2012

SINGAPORE: Travelling to an overseas tropical resort is no longer the only vacation option for Singaporeans.

Staycations are on the rise in Singapore, with more choosing to spend their valuable holiday breaks on the sunny island.

For many working professionals, time is money and taking too much time to travel abroad for a holiday can be a costly affair.

A rising number of Singaporeans now prefer to take a vacation just by staying in the country.

This can help them cut down on travel expenses, avoid the hassle of flying to a distant locations, and take greater advantage of what is available in the city.

Carlton Hotel’s marketing communications manager, Leung Yi Wen, said: “Singaporeans nowadays want a quick, fuss-free and easy holiday, where they don’t have to leave the country, especially during public holidays and festive seasons.

“A hotel staycation would be the best option in terms of a getaway, and it’s also a more cost-efficient option as well.”

A return flight and a three-day, two-night weekend stay at a Hong Kong’s Disneyland resort can cost a family of four upwards of S$4,000.

In comparison, a two-night stay at the Hard Rock Hotel at Resorts World Sentosa and four weekend passes to the Universal Studios Singapore will only cost half as much.

The Carlton Hotel said it has seen a 30 percent increase in staycation bookings this year.

It also offers a wide variety of activity options for staycation travellers to unwind and relax.

Guests can enjoy the spa, the gym, the outdoor pool, and complimentary yoga classes on Saturdays.

Other luxury hotels are also making greater effort to attract more staycation bookings over weekends and festive seasons, during which occupancy rates are generally lower compared to weekdays.

The Fullerton Hotel, for example, is offering special deals for holiday seasons as well as year-round packages for weekend stays, exclusively to local residents.

The Fullerton Heritage’s general manager, Giovanni Viterale, said: “Staycations offer the value of time for busy professionals as well as the element of rejuvenation and luxury they seek in a holiday.

“Being in such a strategic location, this offers people to stay in Singapore and at the same time enjoy all the activities around this area.

“I think this will definitely continue to help us during days such as weekends and periods that people tend to stay here rather than to travel abroad.”

Boutique hotels are also targeting the staycation travellers market by offering a guest experience that is a little more “off the beaten track.”

Wangz Hotel, located at Outram Road, promotes itself as an “urban oasis”.

Among its attractions are its nature-themed interior decor, its private collection of specially commissioned artworks, and its rooftop lounge and restaurant.

Wangz Hotel believes that the staycation market has a lot of potential for growth.

Wangz Hotel’s director, Wang Chang Yuin, said: “We see a huge potential in the staycation market, especially for boutique hotels. We noticed that Singaporeans are more open to staying in smaller properties, and the stay in boutique hotels is really gaining traction.

“I think young people see it as quite hip to stay in a boutique hotel. The guest experience is different from that of other types of larger property hotels.”

The hotel has seen a 20 to 30 percent rise in its staycation bookings this year.

Currently, this market makes up about 30 percent of its overall weekend bookings.